Ally Communication

Abstract

Health ally communication occurs whenever a person or group discursively leverages their privilege to stand in solidarity with people facing health‐related injustice, whether that person or group identifies as an ally or not. Health ally communication should not be confused with health advocacy or health activism, because health ally communication always speaks “with” not “for” groups experiencing health‐related marginalization as it seeks to dismantle health‐related injustices. Health ally communication is a form of discourse that reveals a fluid, intersectional notion of privilege (unearned status, power, preference) in any given context and leverages that privilege to challenge injustice alongside a nonprivileged group. In this way, the conceptualization of ally communication recognizes that one may possess privilege in one social space but not another, and therefore that a person may serve as a health ally in one context yet seek out a health ally in another. Focusing on the communication of allyship, rather than allyship as an identity, draws attention to the complex ways that messages – from interpersonal conversations to health campaigns – can be crafted to address health‐related injustices in ways that amplify the voices and experiences of marginalized groups experiencing that injustice.

School nurses and menstrual communication: Destigmatizing the stigma among adolescents

“…The final research question sought to understand how nurses use communication to form an allyship or assist adolescents in managing their menstruation. 37 – 39 The data supported my argument that school nurses act as allies with their students and with parents as seen in Research Question 1. An allyship is also formed through nonverbal tactics, such as having products.…”

“…I argue that school nurses may use communication to help new menstruators manage their stigma, hence becoming an ally. 39 An ally is a person whose power or privilege 40 allows them to stand against injustice toward others. Allies have solidarity with an individual who has yet to accept the stigma.…”

“…Allies have solidarity with an individual who has yet to accept the stigma. 39 Nurses may use communication to assist new menstruators; therefore, nurses’ communication could be considered a form of health ally communication (HAC). 37 , 39 An allyship occurs when the school nurse uses their position to stand with, or empathize with, students experiencing menstruation.…”

“… 39 Nurses may use communication to assist new menstruators; therefore, nurses’ communication could be considered a form of health ally communication (HAC). 37 , 39 An allyship occurs when the school nurse uses their position to stand with, or empathize with, students experiencing menstruation. 39 However, there is a need to focus on the communication used between the nurse and the student to form this allyship.…”

“…37 , 39 An allyship occurs when the school nurse uses their position to stand with, or empathize with, students experiencing menstruation. 39 However, there is a need to focus on the communication used between the nurse and the student to form this allyship. This study addresses this gap by examining how communication is used by “the other,” in this case, the school nurse, in helping the stigmatized, young school-age menstruators, manage their menstruation.…”